Asunción, Nov 9 (EFE) .- Paraguay's trade surplus fell by 56.2% during the first ten months of the year, to 729.3 million dollars, compared to 1,666.6 million registered in the same period last year, due to the increase in the value of imports, reported today the Central Bank of Paraguay (BCP).

The total value of exports amounted to 10,150 million dollars in the accumulated of the year, 6.6% more than in the same period of the previous year.

Exports of primary products reached 2,506.2 million, unchanged from last year, which reverses the trend registered throughout the year thanks to the growth of soybean exports, according to the figures from BCP.

However, manufactures of agricultural origin registered a fall of 7.2% in October, to 2,339.4 million compared to 2,519.9 million in the previous year, due to the drop in the trade in soy oil and flour, sunflower oil and sugar.

The export of fuel and energy also showed the same trend, with a decrease of 1.3%, up to 1,785.1 million, mainly due to the reduction in electricity exports.

By contrast, exports of manufactures of industrial origin increased by 22.4%, up to 740.2 million dollars in the year, due to the improvement in the sales of cables for electricity, textile articles, cardboard or plastics.

With regard to imports, Paraguay had to buy more abroad, in particular 9,420.6 million dollars, 19.9% �??�??more than in October 2016.

Imports increased in consumer goods 23%, to 3,048.7 million of dollars, due to the increase in food, beverages, paper, cardboard and its manufactures, textiles, and the acquisition of durable goods such as automobiles and artifacts electric.

Regarding intermediate goods, the increase of 18.8% to 2,650.9 million dollars in these ten months was motivated by the purchases of fuels, chemical substances, asphalt or metals.

While the increase of 28.4% in capital goods, up to 3,217.8 million dollars, came mainly from the purchase of agricultural machinery, instruments doctors or vehicle repair, among others.

Imports within the Mercosur countries reached 3,185.9 million dollars, representing 35.7% of the total, with Brazil at head (66.7%), followed by Argentina (30.3%) and Uruguay (3%).

Outside of Mercosur, Paraguay made most of its imports in China (48.6% (3.8%).

Paraguay's total foreign trade until October 2017 was 19,570.6 million dollars, if exports and imports were added, 12.6% more than in the same period. period of 2016.